Chicago ordains largest class of priests in a decade

Chicago, Ill., May 23, 2005 / 12:00 am (CNA).- During a three-hour ceremony, at Chicago’s Cathedral on Saturday, Cardinal Francis George ordained 16 men to the priesthood—the largest ordination class of any diocese in the U.S.

Ranging in age from 26 to 46, the group, some of whom hail from as far away as Poland, Ecuador, Peru and Mexico, are also overall, one of the youngest ordination classes in the country.

The Archdiocese reached its low point in 1990, ordaining only 6 men, but those numbers have been steadily growing since.

Reverend Thomas Baima, who is provost of the University of Saint Mary of the Lake, where the priests were trained, told Chicago’s Catholic New World that the faithful need good priests and that he's proud to announce that his group is ready for the challenge.

27 year-old Brenden Lupton one of the new priests, and a graduate of Catholic University of America told the New World that, “As a priest, in general, I hope to point towards the beauty of Christ.”

“I hope to work a lot with the youth, visit the sick, and teach in RCIA. I also hope to discuss and learn more about our rich Catholic faith,” he added.